Dennis Lynch of Whoppie's Hammock Park has passed on...

[Phil & Cindy]

As Cindy and I were being briefed on the "must do and will do" list for our first ever trip to Negril back in '09, our good friends Chet & Coleen kept talking about this Dennis character, his property and a bunch of goats. I thought,okay.... I had no concept of Negril, let alone this guy named Dennis.
Our first impression of Jamaica was in the darkness of night. By the time we arrived in Negril, hunger and sleep was satisfied by pasta and a room at the Mariposa. The next morning we loaded into the vehicle and headed to the CLIFFS, at WHOOPIES, and WOW! Were we blown away! The fresh ocean breeze, the turquoise blue water crashing against the rocks of the cliffs, and of course, the gentle, quiet welcome of Dennis. With an Appletons and fresh squeezed orange juice in my glass ala Dennis, I listen intently to the conservation between Chet and Dennis as they talk of days gone by and the changes they have both seen in Negril over the years. It was an education, a insight into the life of the man and a sort of therapy all in one. I pan all around me and think to myself...this is not Iowa. I can't believe what I am seeing. I think that this is heaven in its own strange way. We visited Dennis 3 times that first reach and wouldn't be a complete trip to Negril without a visit to Whoopies. In February of 2010, I gathered all of my courage and got down on one knee to propose to the love of my life with an audience of a few friends looking on, including Dennis. Our host must have been a romantic at heart as he had thrown on a Lionel Richie/Commodores CD as tears of joy flowed down our cheeks. Thank you to Dennis for all of the great memories, the face of Negril will never look the same. We will miss him and will never have a "complete trip to Negril" again. Jah bless you Dennis!

"While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil." - John Taylor